AS AMBASSADOR, GRETZKY HAS DIPLOMATIC PICK-SIX
Hockey’s all-time greatest player, Wayne Gretzky, last week was named the ambassador of the NHL’s centennial celebration as Nov. 17 will be the 100th anniversary of the league’s founding. The Great One took the time to name his all-time NHL starting lineup — displaying his own humility by leaving himself off the team.
His six are Gordie Howe, Mark Messier and Jean Beliveau up front, Bobby Orr and Paul Coffey on defense and Grant Fuhr in goal. Messier, Coffey and Fuhr, need we point out, are former Edmonton Oilers teammates of Gretzky.
A few observations: Coffey, who played his final 18 NHL games as a Bruin in 2000-01, often said Bruins legend Ray Bourque was a better player than he was — which few would deny, given the slick-skating Coffey’s suspect defensive skills.
As for Fuhr, it was those deficiencies in the D-zone by Coffey and many of his Edmonton teammates — who concerned themselves primarily with their dizzying, dazzling attack — that showcased Fuhr’s immense skill. The Oilers knew they could count on their goalie, maybe the best ever at acrobatic, reaction stops, to save them so they didn’t have to worry too much about the defensive zone.
Some critics have pointed out that Mario Lemieux deserves a spot on the team. But we would argue that Gretzky was obviously a better player than Lemieux or, with the exception of Orr, anyone else in that top six.